Nice, France galleries. Guide to art galleries in Nice

Art Galleries in Nice

Nice is well known for its remarkable artistic legacy. Famous names who throughout the ages have fallen under the charm of the city include Renoir, Matisse, Toulouse-Lautrec and Chagall. Some of these artists have even made Nice their home. Works by all of them are to be seen in numerous art galleries across the city. That said, Nice has recently reemerged as the place where modern art can also be admired. Particularly during the last thirty-odd years, some new art museums have been established, which now attract modern art lovers from all over the world. Visiting Nice’s art galleries, many of which are nestled in the narrow, charming streets of Vieux Nice (Old Town), will be a great cultural experience, if only for variety’s sake.

Gardens of the Villa Ephrussi de Rotschild , by rolandbo

Villa Ephrussi de Rotschild
Address: Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat, 10 km from Nice Phone: +33 4 93 01 33 09 e-mail: message@villa-ephrussi.com
Website: http://www.villa-ephrussi.com

Situated on the narrowest side of the Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat hill, Villa Ephrussi de Rotschild is considered one of the finest building on the whole French Riviera. Constructed between 1905 and 1912 and designed by the Belgian architect Aaron Messiah, it is surrounded with nine superbly arranged gardens. Among them there is a typical well-rounded French jardin with an ideal symmetry of plants as well as lush Spanish and Florentine gardens adorned with numerous fountains, ponds, patios and shaded paths. It is also worth visiting the magnificent rose garden. This is an exotic garden with some rare trees along with the Stone garden where several archaeological remains can be seen.
more

Galerie des Ponchettes (Ponchettes Gallery-Museum)
Address: 77 Quai des Etats-Unis Phone: +33 4 93 623 124
Website: http://www.nice.fr/mairie_nice_259
see map

Situated just a stone's throw away from the sunny seaside of Nice, this municipal gallery displays the finest masterpieces by French and foreign artists from the 19th Century. The gallery's aim is also to support young talented debutantes by showing their works of art to a larger audience. The gallery exhibits all kinds of artwork, with a preference for modern and contemporary art. Each exhibition lasts from one to three months. Admission is free.

Theatre de la Photographie et de l'Image Charles Negre
Address: 27, Bvd Dubouchage Phone: +33 4 97 134 220 e-mail: jean-pierre.giusto@ville-nice.fr
Website: http://www.tpi-nice.org
see map

Nice has always been a city of photographers trying to preserve with a camera its irresistible charm. The most famous among them was Charles Nègre who spent the main part of his life here devoting the majority of his works to Nice. The exhibition of Nègre reveals the history of Nice between 1863 and 1866. Apart from the large selection of over 40 Nègre's photos, the museum also displays the works of famous 20 th-Century masters of photography from all over the world as well as offering various symposiums and conferences. The Theatre of Photography and Images consists of five exhibition rooms, where you can find everything from photojournalism to portraits and landscapes.

Galerie Renoir
Address: 8, rue de la Loge Phone: +33 4 9313 4046

see map

Although inside the Galerie Renoir there aren't any woks of the famous painter himself, it is worth visiting the temporary exhibitions which mostly focus on contemporary art. Like the other municipal galleries such as Galerie Ste-Reparate or Galerie du Château, the aim is to promote young, up-and-coming debutants and let them present their work to a wider audience. The gallery is situated in Vieux Nice, at the corner of Rue de la Lodge and Rue Droite, in the very heart of the old town.

Monge
Address: 18 Rue du Pont-Vieux Phone: +33 4 7172 0969 e-mail: monge@monge.info
Website: http://www.monge.info/
see map

This small private gallery exhibits the delicate oil paintings of Frederique Monge inspired by the Impressionists. On display are mostly the smooth pastel shaded images of fruits, vegetables and flowers, as the artist preferred still life painting. The gallery is situated in a narrow, winding alley, just a stone's throw from Place Rossetti and the Cathedrale Ste Reparate.

L'Atelier Soardi
Address: 8 Rue desire-Niel

see map

In a narrow unfrequented street running alongside the famous Lycee Massena frequented by literary legends such as Guillaume Apollinaire, you will find a small private gallery. Established by the marriage of local painters, Colette and Jean-Pierre Soardi as their own workshop, the atelier sometimes converts into a showroom, organizing temporary exhibitions by modern artists from France and abroad.

Sylvie T.
Address: 14, rue Droite Phone: +33 4 93 62 59 15 e-mail: atelier@sylvie-t.com
Website: http://www.sylvie-t.com
see map

At the very heart of the city there is a little atelier of the local artist, known as Sylvie T. With simple lines and traditional technique, her works resemble the architectural drawings of Nice. Most of her paintings represent the scenery of Nice and its surroundings, such as characteristic narrow winding streets. Also her workshop is set in one of those small shady alleys passing through the city's core. The artist is also known as the author of drawings to illustrate a book about the cultural heritage of Vieux-Nice.

L'Iris Bleu (Blue Iris)
Address: 5 Rue Rossetti Phone: +33 4 9385 0996

see map

L'Iris bleu gallery is a small private atelier by a local artist greatly fascinated by nature. Her pictures often present big bunches of flowers bursting with colours as if they blossomed right in front of you. Just next door, at 2 rue Rossetti, there is another interesting exhibition room, known as Galerie Vetu.

1 2